Capcom says new DmC Dante controversy 'part of the strategy'

When we first revealed the new look for Dante in the next Devil May Cry game (mysteriously named "DmC"), we have to admit we were wondering what Capcom was thinking. Apparently, though, they are aware of the whole matter, but say it is "part of the strategy."

"I will argue that any changes will bring about a knee-jerk reaction from fans," Capcom VP of Strategic Planning and Business Development Christian Svennson says. "We know that; we knew that going into it. To be fair, I think some of the strategy here was to create that discussion and dialogue, and I think it drastically raises the visibility of the title versus if we had just done another Dante."

Sven, old friend -- if everyone's talking about how much they hate your new character, that's not going to increase sales (and here we are a month later still hating it). It's not even going to spread the word properly to new fans. It will possibly attract fans who like this juvenile look, if they also for some reason like guns and gutting demons, though with a probable M rating, that isn't going to be a lot.

Adding further to the puzzlement: this Dante was one in a long list -- developer Ninja Theory had to work hard to find something Capcom was happy with. And unfortunately, aside from some possible tweaks, "by and large [this] will be the direction the team is going down."

Yeah I figured it was to get discussions going, we've been debating quite a bit over at the DMC forums, but eh...we're all going to get this game, both new fans and old, why? Because, no matter what they make Dante look like, no matter how idiotic the ideas, it's still DMC. And boy do we love DMC.

That isn't to say that I'd prefer some sort of makeover, because the reasoning behind this reboot is complete and utter bullshit. Westernization? Um, that's how they really expect to appeal to us, with some emo-looking Dante? Low sales? So the last title selling nearly 3 million copies isn't enough? And wait, a reboot? What...yeah ok leave us with a million plotholes from DMC4.

The thing is they know for a fact that most of the people hating will still buy it so this tactic works. It's just like inFamous 2 sure the fans won in that case but everyone hating would have still bought it...

Honestly Capcom? Hang onto this design but do NOT use it in Devil May Cry itself...make the hair whitish once more so we can tell a little better as well.What should you save this for? This Dante looks relatively ghoulish and Frankenstein-y, add a little wear and tear to the coat as well. It would mesh well within a crossover game with Konami, whether that be Castlevania or Silent Hill. Seriously it is just NOT the Dante we've come to know and love and he seems too 'realist' and 'dystopian' to be in a crossover like Shin Megami (known for heavy themes yes, but completely wild and outrageous designs) or Viewtiful Joe (far too 'doom metal') But, this design would look nice within Silent Hill or the 3D Castlevanias, and it could also make a nice Max Payne skin.